Anaphylactic Shock Symptoms

Learn about anaphylactic shock symptoms so that you can learn about the immune system's reaction to allergens.  Sometimes the immune system reacts to an allergen as if it is a foreign substance entering your system. The body produces antibodies that cause severe reaction in the body that often come fast. Some of these symptoms are dangerous to your health. The reaction must include skin and another organ to be considered anaphylaxis.

Causes. Some of the substances that cause this reaction is prescription medications, venom from bee stings, high protein foods, food additives and chemicals. These are just a few triggers of anaphylactic shock. Lesser known causes of anaphylaxis is muscle relaxants, exercise and latex. Sometimes, jogging triggers an attack or eating certain foods before exercise. Common drugs like aspirin can cause an allergic reaction.

Breathing and Skin Problems. This is caused by the throat swelling and sometimes tongue swelling up from allergen. This blocks the throat and airway passages causing breathing problems. Wheezing, coughing and nasal congestion can be related to  these breathing symptoms. Skin reactions like hives or a red rash on the skin that cause severe itching and irritations are often signs of severe allergic reaction. Swelling of the face and eyes or feet and hands could be sign of anaphylactic shock.

Cardiovascular and General Symptoms. Often, a sensation of warmth in the body is a sign to look for. With the heart, nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea and dizziness  mean the allergen is wrecking havoc with your body. A feeling of anxiety or that you are going to die is a warning sign to get medical attention quickly.

Visit the Emergency Room and Get Tested. If you have a combination of these symptoms or any life threatening symptom visit the emergency room. After make an appointment with a doctor to get the problem under control. Have allergy tests done. If you don't know what is causing the reaction, have your doctor run some allergy tests. It's important ot find the cause so you can treat it. Often skin tests and blood tests will be given to find out more about the condition.

Treatments. Using an autoinjector is often a way to control the symptoms. This is a dose of medicine and syringe that one uses when one get a severe allergy attack. The needle is usually injected into your thigh by someone or yourself. Use it before its expiration date or it may not be effective. Sometimes, allergy shots are given to build up body's resistance to insect stings. Sometimes you are given an oxygen tank for breathing problems and often the doctor prescribes antihistamines and prednisone.